Table of contents for 13-Aug-2020 in Pick Me Up!

Laying on the kitchen floor, my eyes began to flutter open. All I could feel was the chill of the tiles below me, as I looked up and saw the blurry face of my little girl. ‘Mum, you’re awake!’ my daughter, Sienna, nine, said with a worried look on her face. ‘She’s woken up now,’ I heard her repeat to somebody else over the phone. But fumbling around on the floor, it didn’t take me long to realise what had happened. I’d suffered from another blackout, and Sienna was on the phone to the emergency services. ‘Stay calm Mum,’ she soothed, as she listened to the responder. But I barely had the strength to reply. Listening to Sienna talk on the phone, I felt in safe hands - just as…

As I fumbled around with oxygen tanks, tears rolled down my cheeks. It was the middle of the night, and as my six-month-old daughter, Maisie, lay crying, I’d never felt more alone in my life. While most new mums feel the same, for me, things were slightly different. My worries weren’t the usual new mum stresses. I wasn’t panicking about milestones or worried about teething, my concerns were focused on Maisie’s health. Maisie has a heart condition, which meant my days had been filled with medicines and medical terms. Our little girl needed an oxygen tank to breath and had to be fed through a tube. For myself and my husband Adam, 34, everything had become so clinical and it certainly wasn’t what I was expecting for my first few…

Scurrying to the front of the class, the clickety clack of my tap shoes echoed through the dance hall. ‘And one, and two, and three…’ the teacher instructed, sending me tapping away to the tinny music that played from a radio in the corner of the room. Growing up in New York in the 1930s, dancing had always been a big part of my life. Going to the cinema with my parents was a real treat, and when I was 11, I saw Fred Astaire on the big screen in the film Top Hat. His body flowed like liquid, and I was hooked. That man could move! After much begging, my parents agreed to sign me up for tap dance lessons, and every time I tapped my feet to the…

WE’RE LOVING THIS! Looking for new ways to keep the little ones entertained during the summer holidays? Well look no further than Little Cooks Co, the UK’s first healthy cooking kit for kids. This monthly subscription-based recipe kit is posted through the letterbox, direct to kids. It is packed with all the natural and healthy dry ingredients of that month’s delicious and nutritious recipe for children to bake in their home. Ingredients are perfectly  measured to make each recipe and also it includes a small activity or craft for children to  enjoy while making their yummy  bake from scratch. It’s fun, educational,  affordable, and will create lasting memories for all involved. Ready to bake? Prices start from £12.99 www.littlecooksco.co.uk Something fishy This little guy refuses to sashay away! Whilst Sea Life Brighton remained closed…

This week, our tip of the week will receive a great product from Addis! Part of the Lynsey Queen of clean collection this pink fold flat basket is ideal for when space is a premium. It collapses down to store in between the smallest of gaps yet boasts a large 38l capacity. Also great for supermarket visits. For more ways to make your life easier, visit addis.co.uk Let’s chill! If you store clingfilm in the fridge, it won’t stick to itself when unravelling. Angela Garvin, Romford Three little gnomes Destined for the bin, that would be a sin! Paint them, love them, now happy little things. I brought my gnomes to life. Carol Loader, Somerset Cheers to that! I decant small amounts of spirits into bottles in the freezer. On…

Sitting in front of the TV, I was barely paying attention to Top Gear. Instead, I trawled through dating site Plenty of Fish looking for a match. I’d never been one for looks–I preferred focusing on what my potential matches had to say, and their personality. I liked the ones that seemed a bit cheeky, and made me put in the work. And then I came across one perfect woman who wanted exactly that. Her dating profile read; ‘Give me your best chat up line, because I’m not settling for anything cheesy.’ She was called Caitlan, then 20, and had a welcoming smile and warm eyes. Swiping right, I sent an opening line, not really thinking about what I was typing to her. ‘Alright, how’s your evening?’ I said. She…

Tie-dye has continued to make a big and bold statement in fashion. A throwback to the 1960s and 1970s, the colourful print has infiltrated into all sorts of styles–from loungewear to sportswear and swimwear. Whether you purchase it in-store, or make your own at home, it’s hard to resist this groovy pattern this summer! Rock the look The marmite of the hosiery world, fishnet tights, have zigzagged in and out of fashion since before anyone can remember. But, one scroll through Instagram will tell you that right now, they’re in in–and most likely here to stay. Get your look and fit just right with inclusive hosiery brand Better. Here’s their hot take on three ways you can make styling fishnets work for you… 1 LAYER UNDER JEANS One way to…

Amongst the dense world of the internet lies a small community of agricultural lovers, running through sunlit meadows, baking rustic sourdough from the oven of a thatched roof cottage, bordering an idyllic woodland of paradise. Small animals run free in the wilderness, wild mushrooms grow underfoot and ivory frilled dresses hang on the garden washing line. A glimpse into a simple existence–one where the food is always fresh, the air is always clean, and the technology is always off-limits. It’s the backdrop of a blossoming aesthetic movement called ‘cottagecore’. As a means of escaping their everyday lives, a growing community of young people are dreaming of running away to the countryside. The trend, which began in 2017 on social media sites like Tumblr and TikTok, combines lifestyle with fashion, and…

Complete the grid then read down the shaded squares to reveal the hidden answer. Clue: Film industry job. ACROSS 6 _ Lennox, singer (5) 7 Confessed (8) 10 John _, voiced Sulley in Monsters, Inc. (7) 11 Current of air (7) 12 Meeting for discussion (7) 13 Is uncertain or indecisive (7) 14 People eligible to work (6,5) 19 Sordid (7) 21 _ Imbruglia, singer who had a UK No. 2 single with 1997’s Torn (7) 23 Aviation terminal (7) 25 Idea (7) 26 Provide the capital for (8) 27 Valuable commodity (5) DOWN 1 Relaxed and unofficial (8) 2 European language (6) 3 Make progress (4,6) 4 Among (4) 5 Singer who rose to fame as part of hiphop group The Black Eyed Peas (6) 6 Month (6) 8…

P-P-P-Perfect surprise SEA LIFE Hunstanton welcomes the birth of an adorable tiny penguin chick. Interestingly, the new-born weighed the same as four of the iconic Penguin biscuits! Penguins are well known for their rectal projectile ability and this chick loves taking aim at the staff during weighing, earning it the nickname ‘Squirt’. ‘We have all learned to aim the danger zone away from us or face the consequences,’ says Aquarist Lucy Frusher. The staff don’t mind the extra washing though. ‘The chick has kept us all smiling through the long days that we have been closed,’ says Lucy. For now, the team are excited to discover what mischief Squirt will get up to as it takes its first waddle out of the nest. Visit SEA LIFE Hunstanton to see Squirt…

DON’T MISS Mandy, BBC TWO Initially Mandy debuted as part of Comedy Shorts on BBC iPlayer in 2019, and now it has developed into a brand-new comedy. It stars the funny Diane Morgan who has also written and directed the series. Mandy is a woman with big dreams. Most of all, she dreams of breeding Doberman Pinchers, but there are hurdles to beat before that dream can come true. We’ll see her go on a health kick, rent out her small back room on Airbnb, and attempt a series of short-lived jobs within the modern gig economy. Guest-stars include Tom Basden (Matt in Netflix’s After Life), David Bradley (Argus Filch in Harry Potter), Natalie Cassidy (Sonia from EastEnders), Maxine Peake (of Shameless, Silk, The Bisexual), and stand-up comedian Sean Lock.…

Healthy eating can be delicious! WW, Weight Watchers reimagined, launches their new cookbook Zero Heroes (£9.95) available online weightwatchersshop.co.uk. It has over 60 delicious meals to choose from, all based on WW’s ZeroPoint foods–a list of foods you can eat as much as you like as part of their healthy eating pattern. Give it a go! Plum & pistachio crumble Serves 8 □ Calorie controlled cooking spray□ 4 large plums, halved, stones removed and thinly sliced□ 600g blackberries□ 1½ tablespoons plain flour□ 1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest□ ¼ teaspoon ground cardamom□ 100g porridge oats□ 55g light brown soft sugar□ 50g dairy-free spread□ 35g pistachio kernels, finely chopped 1 Preheat the oven to 180°C, fan 160°C, gas mark 4. Mist a medium baking dish with cooking spray. 2 Put the…

Cars cost a lot of money, but they don’t have to be such a drain on your resources. Experts at whatcar.com share their tips on how you can use your car to earn some extra cash… 1 Carpool with workmates Many employers use noticeboards to advertise carpools in offices, linking you with workmates who live in your area. In most places, the majority of car insurers will continue to cover your car, as long as no profit is made. So, if all the money goes towards covering running costs, you’ll be fine. Work out the fuel cost of the journey, and split it out. 2 Parking rental This one is more about making money from your parking space, but it can be lucrative and only involves you having to let…